William's
Conversion: This
letter was written to Thomas Roussel by William during
that period when William was searching for the True
Faith. Both of them eventually joined the Catholic
Church. William sets forth very good reasons to embrace
the Catholic Faith.

Dear
Roussel,

Thanks
for your letter. I have ordered last weeks Church Times
but it has not yet arrived...

I do not
remember exactly what I said the other day, but I do not
think you yet know the full extent of my difficulty.

My
difficulty is something like this.--Our Lord taught 1900
yrs. ago in a country known as Palestine, for about the
space of three years. After that time He ascended into
Heaven, but before doing that He made provision for the
teaching of posterity the words which He had spoken. A
great many of these words have since been written down by
Evangelists under the guidance of the Holy Ghost. That
this is not sufficient of itself we see by the fact that
whereas one man who receives the Holy Scripture as the
inspired Word of God professes to find from that
Scripture one thing, another man professes to find quite
another thing, and yet both alike profess to find it
after prayer, and under the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
Take for instance the question of the Real Presence in
the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Here, O'Bardsy,
Vicar of St. Peter's, Bdfd., tells his congregation that
in the Holy Eucharist they do not really & truly
receive the Body and Blood of our Lord, whilst in the
neighboring parish of St. Mary Magdalene's, Wm. Redhead,
the Vicar, tells his congregation that in the Holy
Eucharist they do really and truly receive the Body and
the Blood of our Lord. Now both of these men profess to
have found their respective doctrines from the same
source, and under the same guidance. But it is perfectly
obvious that one of them must be in the wrong.
Which of them is it?

Now as I
have said, our Lord did make provision for the teaching
of His people after he was gone. He did establish a
Church which should teach the world that which is
contained in Holy Scripture, & should be able to
decide, if necessary, what was the meaning of any
disputed passage, and should be able to solve any doubts
and difficulties of any of its members. Now this was a
great work for Him to give to His Church, but He also
made it able to do it. He did send it the promised
Comforter whom he promised would remain with it always
(St. John XIV. 16). And again, when He sent them out to
preach, He promised that He Himself would be with them...

This
Church then must be at the present time in existence
& always have existed since the time when Our Lord
founded it.

Nextly
-- How are we to recognize it? We are told - By their
fruits ye shall know them.

So I
next try to find out what would the characteristics of
such a Church be?

The
first thing I find is that whatever it teaches must
be absolutely true. The Holy Ghost dwells within it. Our
Lord Himself abides with it -- therefore whatever it
teaches is true, for if not it must be untrue, and God
cannot back up what is not true, for if He did He would
cease to be God. It must then be Infallible.

If then
it is infallible it must be one, for ... It cannot
be divided -- "A house that is divided against
itself cannot stand." It must be absolutely uniform
on all matters of Doctrine (F[athe]r['s] objection
about Card. Newman's ..... does not touch this for it was
not a matter of doctrine, but merely a policy).

It must
be Catholic and Apostolic.

Now let
me look at the different views on the Catholic Church
held by those who call themselves Catholics.

The
Anglicans maintain that the Church consists of different
"branches". The "English Church" is
one, the "Roman Church" another, and the
"Eastern Churches" others. Now they admit that
all these "branches" differ amongst each other
on certain points of doctrine. For instance, on the
question of Transubstantiation, or on the question
of Purgatory & Indulgences. Are they then one?
Yet no Anglican dares to say that his branch alone is
Catholic, and others are heretical. Again, why does not
the whole Church speak, and say which is right? Our Lord
is still with it, for He promised to be with it always.
The Holy Ghost still dwells in it, and animates it. Can
the Church ever cease to teach whilst there are still
doubts & difficulties to overcome?

Now the
"Roman" view on the other hand, says that the
Church must be one. But in order to secure it being one,
Our Lord provided it with a visible Head, without which,
the Roman Catholics claim there can be no true unity.
Those who do not recognize this one Head are outside the
Church, just as much as a branch cut off from a tree is
no longer a part of the tree. Now when I look at this
view I do find that the Church, according to the Roman
view of it, has always been one, for it has always looked
to the Pope for guidance, & has accepted as true what
has been taught by the Pope. The Church, according to
this view of it, must be one for the Pope cannot at some
time make two directly opposite statements, nor, the
Roman Catholics claim, can he at different times teach
different doctrines, for he speaks only as the mouthpiece
(so to speak) of the Church, and therefore at the bidding
of the Holy Ghost who is the life & soul of the
Church.

The
Doctrine on infallibility of the Pope follows from the
Doctrine on the Infallibility of the Church, once the
Roman Catholic view of the Church is accepted. There can
be no doubt, I think, that a Church bearing the
characteristics which the Roman Catholics claim belong to
the Church, has existed from the time of the Apostles
themselves. And that this Church has always called itself
the Catholic Church (& always did acknowledge the
English Church to be part of it, until the English Church
at the Reformation denied the Supremacy of the Pope.) And
we know well enough that it does exist, and that it is in
a flourishing condition at the present time.

It seems
to me that Anglo-Catholics (so-called) profess that they
teach what has been taught by the whole Church, but that each
man is to use his own private judgement as to what has
been taught by the Church.

Roman
Catholics (so-called), on the other hand, look to their
bishops to know what is the Church's teaching, and the
Bishops to the Pope. So that according to the Roman
Catholic view, a man has only to use his private judgment
when he declares himself to be a Catholic or no.

Thus I
find two views. -- If one be true, the Church is a disunited
body. If the other is true, the Church is a United
body. Which am I to accept?

The
direct arguments as to the Supremacy of the Bp. of Rome,
which have especially appealed to me, I think, I gave
pretty fully in my last letter.

As to
whether St. Peter was even Bp. of Rome seems to me to be
sufficiently answered by the fact that it was never
questioned until three or four centuries ago. There are
other arguments -- perhaps better ones -- which I have
not time to go into now.

With
much love
Believe me,
Yr. very loving brother
Wm. Byles

Vocation:Thomas and William Byles eventually converted to the
Catholic Faith. There was great opposition to this from
their mother. In one letter Thomas' mother begs him to
come back to the church which their forefathers fought to
establish. Thomas was present at his father's death,
praying the Divine Office. William entered a religious
order (Jesuit) and Thomas debated if he should enter an
order or join the secular priesthood. The following
letters concern the religious life tried by William, and
Thomas' journey to the priesthood. Thomas would be
ordained a secular priest. William would eventually leave
religious life, fall in love, and plan a New York wedding
for April of 1912.

Sept 14,
1894

My Dear
Winter:
I am staying on in Germany after taking departure of the
others in the hopes of getting a tutorship here for a few
months. I think it is w. doubtful if I shall succeed; if
not I shall go home probably in a week or two. I have
been staying here at a Benedictine Convent for the last
week & have had a very pleasant time. I think this is
the finest country I have seen. The Danube here flows
through a valley and precipitous cliffs on each side,
clothed halfway up in beech & fir, & the other
half is perpendicular limestone rock. Just at Beuron the
valley widens & forms an amphitheater round the
Abbey. This Abbey has only been founded 30 years, but it
has acquired a great reputation, especially for Art,
& it has already several branches in different lands;
one in England. You probably know that Willie began his
Jesuit Novitiate last Saturday (Sept. 8). He started from
home a fortnight ago, reaching London on the 2nd so as to
have a few days there beforehand. His address for the
next 2 yrs. will be Monroe House, Roehampton, London,
S.W. The other left for home the following Sat. (Sept 1)
& got to Stoke last Friday. They had a bad crossing
& had to sleep in the Hall. I hope to enter some
Religious Order early in next year, but I want to wait a
little, partly because I have not yet found out which
Order I am best fitted for, & partly because my
doctor tells me that by next February, if I have not
recurrence, I may consider myself quite cured of my fits,
& till that is safe it would probably be difficult to
find any Order willing to accept me. Hilda received your
letter on the day they started for England, but
unfortunately I had not time to learn what news it
contained; I hope however to receive from home either the
letter itself or the substance of the contents. I wish I
could impart to you something of the bliss of knowing
with certainty what God has revealed for our support
& help. It is a happiness which grows more & more
every day & which affords a truly marvelous &
altogther supernatural support in all temptation, &
against all evil. It is however beyond my power to impart
this -- the most I can do is to pray God to give to all I
love this wonderfully great Gift which I have received:
and I trust you also pray continually that God will show
you more of His Truth. It is the duty of everyone who
does not possess a complete Revelation. And above all,
avoid shallow judgments of Catholicism. Be scrupulously
honest. Prereis (e.g.) no suff-t ground for saying (as to
often said) that Catholicism was a good Religion for the
Middle Ages, but a bad one now. Some circumstances have
changed, but human nature has not changed to that extent.
I remain ever,
Your Loving Brother,
Thomas Roussel

Note:
I own the above letter.

Dominican
Priory, Woodchester, GLOS.
October 21, 1897

My dear
Thomas,

Thanks
for yours dated October 19., recvd last night. It
is a fortnight tomorrow since I arrived here. I have been
keeping Choir, Refectory and Silence. Otherwise I am free
to do as I like. I accompany the Novices on their walks
and sometimes go to recreation with them after dinner and
supper. I am very pleased with everything. I feel sure I
shall like the life. The Choir and other ecclesiastical
ceremonies I enjoy very much. I have no hesitation in
wishing to offer myself. Of course I do not know whether
I shall be accepted -- pray for me. I have not yet
started my retreat, nor do I know when I shall. If I am
accepted it will come immediately before the clothing,
but I do not know whether this ten days of retreat are
included in the month's.... or whether they begin at the
end. I shall have to undergo an exam before the Fathers
in council. Besides general questions such as the Jesuits
give, they examine one in Latin; and I think to satisfy
their curiosity in other subjects too. There are clever
Novices here, including six "professed" (they
are called Novices until Ordination). Among the simply
Novices is Bro. Raymond le Verrier, ...monk of the great
Gilbertine Monastery of Yenby? S. Wales. Jerome Brookes,
who I believe used to repeat Philosophy to your Reverence
at St. Mary's, Oscott. Both have made affective enquiries
as to your spiritual and temporal well being.

I should
be much obliged if you would look after my property till
I send for it. If you hear from me that I am to be
clothed here, you might send me -- letters & other
Mss.,Photos/ not Pictures (except
religious pictures for prayer books). Paperknife.
The Clothes you had better appropriated or give
away. The Spirit stoves and other household
utensils you can keep or give to Mother. I believe there
is a Photo of Mother, May & Helen
framed in a deep wallnut frame. If you like to have that
it would be much more convenient for me to have one
unframed. But do not try to take it out of the frame as
it has been cut, glued on something in such a way as to
spoil it. If you have an unframed one & like to
change, well and good. Have you still got the picture of
Father Daminen which you gave me some years ago? If so I
should like to have it. -- I hope you will send me too, a
complimentary copy of your book -- also the reviews of
it.

Oremus
pro invicem,
William Byles

P.S.
I have heard nothing from home since I arrived here. I
wrote the day after I arrived. But I suppose no news is
good news. Mother I know was to have gone off to some
wild women's meetings in the lakes, but that would be
only for a few days.

I shall
be glad to hear news of Mary. We ought to pray much for
her, as she is entering on a profession which for a young
girl, good and innocent though she be, is full of danger.
But her Holy Patron can give her the grace she requires.

Mother
talked a great deal of Catholic doctrines and practices
whilst I was at home. She is very ignorant of course, and
in answering her questions I thought it more prudent to
adopt the method of instruction rather than of
controversy. She was surprised, not being able to
understand that the Catholic Faith is anything more than
the "views" a Catholic holds. But it is
the principle error, it seems to me of which to disarm a
Protestant. She was surprised too that I should not wish
to claim some sort of fellowship to the High Church
Party, and could not understand when I told her that they
were as Protestant as any other Church Party. However, I
think I taught her to understand that the fundamental
difference was not ritual, but submission to authority.
Oremus pro i.

W.B.

A Wedding in America:Father Byles' brother William eventually left the
religious life and moved to America to run a business. He
met a young lady, fell in love, and made plans for an
April wedding in New York. Father Thomas Byles, who was
ordained in 1902, was invited to say the wedding Mass.
Father Byles wrote to his brother concerning the wedding
plans.

February
13, 1912

My Dear
W.

I am not
at all sure that the English form of marriage is the same
as is used in America. If not it might be better to get
what you want in America. Is her name Isabella Katherine?
I want to have this accurate. Of course the difference
between the English would only be slight - the words in
England are the clauses beginning, "I N., take thee
N. to my wedded (wife/husband) --

Perhaps
it is worth mentioning to you that the Cardinal has
notified his intention of celebrating his elevation to
the Sacred College by leading 2 pilgrimages; one to
Lourdes on May 30, and one to Rome in October. Possibly
you would like to take in the former. I suppose it will
occupy about 8 days.

Ever
yrs.
T. Rs. D. B.

A Voyage Abroad:Two months later found Father Byles on his way to
America to celebrate the wedding Mass for his brother
William. The date was April 10, 1912. Father Byles was on
board the Titanic when he wrote the following
letter.

Dear
Miss Field

On board
ship one has little to do to fill up time so I start to
write a letter to you which will be posted at Queenstown
tomorrow morning. Everything so far has gone very well,
except that I have somewhere managed to lose my umbrella.
I first missed it getting out of the train at
Southampton, but I am inclined to think that I have left
it at Liverpool St. We arrived at Southampton in the boat
train at 11.30 and started at 12 o'clock very punctually.
At one we had lunch. We were then still in Southampton
Water, but when we came out of lunch we were between
Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. At 6.0 supper, and
before coming out of supper we stopped at Cherbourg, and
the tender was just coming alongside with passengers. The
tender is a good sized boat of 1260 tons, but by the side
of Titanic she looks as though with a good crane we could
lift her out of the water and lay her on the deck without
feeling any inconvenience. The decks are like this
1. Top deck for promenading
2. Second deck (1st class only) for promenading Promenade
3. Deck B. 2nd class smoking room, promenading on both
sides Deck
4. - C Library, closed in promenade on both sides Upper
Deck
5. - D Dining Saloon and some cabins Saloon Deck
6. - E Cabins - Swimming Bath - Turkish Bath Main Deck
7. - F Cabins Middle Deck
8. - G Cabins Lower Deck
That makes 8 decks above the water line. When you look
down at the water from the top deck it is like looking
from the roof of a very high building. At the time of
writing (7.45) we are still stopping at Cherbourg. The
English Channel was decidedly rough to look at, but we
felt it no more than when we were in Southampton Water. I
do not much like the throbbing of the screws, but that is
the only motion we feel. I have found two other priests
among the 2nd class passengers - one a Benedictine
from Bavaria, and one a secular from Lithuania. I shall
not be able to say Mass tomorrow morning, as we shall be
just arriving at Queenstown and there will consequently
be some confusion, but after that there will be no
difficulty about it. This letter will be posted in
Queenstown tomorrow morning. Of course I must put it in
the letter box before we arrive there, so I shall not be
able to acknowledge the receipt of any letter that may
come there for me. I trust Ben went back home alright on
Monday morning. I will write as soon as I get to New York
& you should probably have my letter between the 24th
and the 29th.

Believe
me
Yours Truly
T.R.D. Byles

Sympathy for a Martyr: This
letter was written by William to his new mother-in-law
just days after the disaster.

Bernards'
Inn
Bernardsville, N.J.
April 21, 1912

My dear
Mamma,

Here we
are at Bernardsville...went to St. Vincent's Hospital,
when we met first some young boys and afterwards some
girls who had been on the Titanic. There were a large
number of the survivors there, being fitted out with
clothes used for relief. Whilst we were there the
Cardinal came in and we had the privilege of a few
minutes with him in the corridor. He spoke very nicely of
Roussel and of all the good he must have done on board.
The survivors told us there were two priests on board -
Father Byles, an English priest, and a german priest.
They saw him on deck every day, so that evidently Roussel
was at least fairly well. On Sunday afternoon Roussel had
Rosary and prayers and preached a sermon on the new life
they were to enter into in America, and the dangers to
their Faith they had to guard against - his last sermon.

After
the accident Roussel appeared on deck in full clothes and
moved about among the crowd from group to group giving
absolution (without confessions) and starting all the
Catholics on the Rosary. One girl said the sailors wanted
to put him into a lifeboat, but he refused, and went on
with his work. The passengers were all together on the
higher decks - First, Second and Third all mixed up, so all
participated in his ministrations. Can you see all those
poor people saying the Rosary, and Our Lady at the other
end of the Rosary pulling some of them into lifeboats,
and others to hear the happy command "Enter thou
into the Joy of the Lord."?

From St.
Vincent's we went to the Chelsea Hotel, where we met Mr.
& Mrs. Bean, who had only been married a month, and
were both saved together. They knew little, but they gave
us the address of Roussel's cabin companion. If he
has been saved we may hear more from him.

We meant
to call on Father Clifford enroute, but the chauffer lost
his way. I had a little conversation with him on the
telephone. He is going to have a public Mass for Roussel
on Wednesday.

Goodbye,
Mamma, and many, many thanks for giving me Katherine. She
shall always be my greatest treasure - a pearl of great
price. Pray for us every day that we may join Roussel and
May, where they are now all together.

Yours
affectionately,
William

This is
a letter from the Bishop's House was sent to William
expressing sympathy.

Bishop's
House
Aug. 28, 1912
My dear Mr. Byles,

Last
mail brought me the obituary card of your dear Rev.
Brother; I have prayed for him, but to tell the truth, I
am much more inclined to ask him to pray for me, to get
through his intercession strength always to perform my
Duty as he performed his. He died a Martyr of charity,
performing the most perfect act of love of God and of his
neighbor. "Majorem caritatem nemo habet, ut animam
tuam ponat quis pro amicis suis." Ergo, how should
his soul not have gone straight to heaven.

I wrote
to you immediately after the news reached me. I hope you
received my letter.

Now, as
I turn the page, I come to another subject. I have still
to congratulate you on your marriage. The first
information I had of the happy event was when I read in
some paper that His Holiness the Pope had given you &
your wife his blessing. A marriage blessed in heaven by a
martyr-brother, & on earth by the Vicar of Christ, is
sure to be a happy one & deserves our hearty
congratulations. So, my dear Mr. Byles, most heartily
"Proficiat," as we say in Belgium.

Our
Bishop for whom I have to act since April 14th, when he
sailed for Europe, a few hours before the catastrophe of
the "Titanic," will be back in Colombo only on
Nov. 3rd. I have sent him the obituary card which you
kindly forwarded to His Lordship. It will travel by the
same boat as this hasty note. I shall be glad when His
Lordship returns, as it is not a joke to do the work of
two people in a climate like this. The noble example of
your departed brother helps one to perform his duty more
courageously.